The Collywobbles

It is interesting that Gunn has decided to officially start his new DC Universe with an animation, and about characters most people didn't even know existed, instead of starting with a mainstream blockbuster from the main Justice League memebers like the DCEU and MCU did. But it is definitely a fresh and different start to a universe, although I'm sure the new DC isn't gonna be offcially offcially start until Gunn's Superman film comes out.

What is not fresh though, is the Suicide Squad formula Gunn seems to be really fund of, but I guess it makes sense here since Amanda Waller is literally putting a team together again with Rick Flag as the leader, but this time with creatures instead of humans.

I personally feel like we've had too much Suicide Squad these past couple of years and I'm tired of it. And obviously, this show isn't about that group and it's completely different characters with a different mission, but you could've literally slapped a "Suicide Squad" title on it and no one would've batted an eye.

This is much different from Gunn's Guardians and Suicide Squad formula, but at the very least, the formula actually works and it's decent. And at least he's not doing the literal Suicide Squad again and rebooting all the characters and doing it all over again. This is actually the continuation of the old DC timeline, at least for The Suicide Squad film.

So the positive here is that thankfully Gunn isn't gonna do famous characters we've seen a thousand times before and everybody knows of again. He's giving us new characters as it is a tradition with him at this point, and giving us new lore to the universe. We get introduced to characters like Frankenstein that I didn't even know was in DC, and many other less known characters instead of having Harley Quinn and Deadshot or Boomerang again.

As for the animation itself, I don't really care for this style of animation honestly. I liked how old DC animated movies looked like before they started doing this type of animation where it looks like a mix of CGI with animated parts and characters having a thick black borders making them look like those 3D book pages that pop up when you open them. The same style that was used in Batman: The Long Halloween and I wasn't really fond of.

With that said, the animation isn't that bad and I know that it would've took them more time and money to create a more alive and dynamic style, and you'll get used to it pretty quickly.

The action scenes look decently animated too and it's not all lazy Family Guy animation level where characters sit and talk for 10 minutes and they occasionally move their hand. Although I found the action scene's direction a bit lazy and confusing with quick cuts and extereme close-ups where you have to rewind to see what actually happened because it happened so fast and it was so close that you didn't get that the first time.

Overall, this was a pretty decent start to the series but nothing amazing or new. It's enjoyable and serviceable like every James Gunn project we've seen. I'm sure it's gonna get better with each new episode, but so far, the start was just ok and watchable, nothing you haven't seen before.

Probably the worst animated project in DC in the last 20 years probaly???

DC animated films were always a blast and perhaps achieved a style and storytelling worth from the level of comics in a great way of introducing classic stories to the big public and from a generation that grew up watching Justice League and Batman peak animation shows this Creature Commandos was a dissatisfaction.

Firstly James Gunn recycled the overused already Suicide Squad format again again and again here and where is the fun to see the same archetype from two films and some pretty good animated projetcs. And for a first in a new highly anticipated DC that was a slow start.

In retrospect DC has a legacy in animated films and stories and this looks worse than maybe the 90s and 2000s features in sense of creative and narrative choices.

I won't say I had high hopes for this, but I love GotG, THE Suicide Squad, and The Peacemaker, so I didn't have low expectations either. 'Creature Commandos' is pretty bad imho. Especially after just finishing the latest season of Invincible.

It's not the animation or the voice acting, although the animation could probably be better. The music is fine, Gunn is pretty good at making music videos.

The problem is that it's supposed to be funny and it's just not. Apparently Gunn needs a Pratt or a Cena to deliver, and this series is woefully missing that element.

I'll give the show another couple episodes, but so far it's missing the drama, characters & creativity of Invincible, and it's missing the humor of other Gunn projects. Also the show uses dated political tropes which will age poorly.

James Gunn's continued casting of his brother (no matter how important or annoying). Like you don't need to add him in everything, it's just pointless. Weasel is beyond annoying, that liberal silence would have achieved more.

I can't wait for him to be cast as Batman or The Flash. Weasel gets more screen time, than almost any other character. The gag only goes so far, especially after you brush past a character like Rick Flagg! You could've given him a cameo and that would've been awesome. But Nooo, just force Sean Gunn down our throats.

Is there a better way to solve this conundrum, like use your connections and help him get his own acting credits. Or has that been tried and that's why we're here in this vicious loophole. Just throw him some money and improve your overall product. Word of advice, your audience can only take so much till your audience turns on you.

The launch of the new DC Universe under James Gunn and Peter Safran has been one of the most anticipated moments in recent entertainment history. Tasked with reimagining DC Studios, Gunn and Safran have promised a unified and distinct creative vision, blending the depth of the comic book source material with fresh, modern sensibilities. While the overall scope of the universe is still a little unclear, and despite a strange release strategy, it has nonetheless gotten fans very hyped for the next chapter of DC. "Creature Commandos," written by James Gunn, marks the official entry into this new DC Universe - and it does not disappoint.

This inaugural episode, "The Collywobbles," introduces us to the Creature Commandos, a motley crew of misfits and monsters brought together under the iron-fisted direction of Amanda Waller and led by General Rick Flag, Sr. Gunn's knack for assembling quirky, dysfunctional teams shines brightly here. The Commandos - each with their own bizarre quirks and dynamic personalities - bring to mind the unorthodox camaraderie in "Guardians of the Galaxy" and "The Suicide Squad." Their chemistry is infectious, with witty banter and emotional undertones that hint at layers of complexity to be explored in future episodes. The episode's premise sets up a promising foundation for the series. While the narrative is undeniably fun, complete with Gunn's signature blend of irreverence and heart, the story feels like it's just beginning to find its footing. This is not a flaw as much as a tease; "The Collywobbles" lays the groundwork for what could be a truly engaging serialized adventure. One of the most exciting aspects is the tone it sets for the larger DC Universe. This is a hard R-rated animated project, with visceral action and mature themes, demonstrating the creative flexibility Gunn and Safran envision for their universe. The new DCU promises to embrace diverse stories, tones, and genres - ranging from dark and gritty to humorous and whimsical - and "Creature Commandos" exemplifies the ethos by fully leaning into its absurd, over-the-top premise. Visually, the animation may strike some as simplistic at first glance, but it develops an aesthetic that balances accessibility with a hint of comic book grit, complementing the narrative and tone effectively.

"The Collywobbles" is a strong start for the series and the new DC Universe. It captures the spirit of a James Gunn production - oddball characters, sharp humor, and surprising emotional beats - while hinting at the limitless potential of this revamped DCU. Gunn and Safran's DC Universe is officially here, and if this is any indication, we're in for a thrilling ride.